Slate-frame



(Nvo Mode-1.).

T. KANE.

v s LATB FRAME. N0.260,688. y PatentedJl11y4,1882..

l Y l l v Y /-INVENTOR. y @f @QW 1 1111// (l K 11411l ATTGRNEY WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES;

PATENT Ormea.

THOMAS KANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Y'

sLATE-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,688, dated July 4, 1882.

^ i Application filed March 30, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS KANE, of Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Slate-Frames, ot' which the following is a specitication. Y

This invention relates to that class of slates in which a binding is secured over and around the outer edge as a means of preventing noise and protecting the desks from injury, the object of the invention being to provide a con struction which shall be exceedingly cheap and simple, and under which there shall be less liability of the binding becoming detached than under the ordinary method of attachment.

To this end the invention relates to the irnprovement in the art of attaching the binding to wooden slate-frames, consisting in securing the same by machine-stitchin g passed through the binding and the previously-unperforated wood, and to the new article ot' manufacture-a wooden slate-frame having a binding or mut'- iingattached theretobymachine-madestitches passing throughand seated tightly1 in the wood.

I am aware that' cords have been woven by hand both through and around the edges of previously-perforated slate-frames; also, that cloth or-felt has been secured to slate-frames by a cord passed by hand through and around the previously-perforated edge ot' the frame; also,- that cloth or felt folded over the edge of a previously-perforated frame has been stitched or seWed by hand, the frame being previously grooved and perforated to permit the passage of the needle and thread.

I have found in practical operation under the patents granted for the above-described methods thatvmany and very serious difficulties are incident thereto, among which may be mentioned the expense incident to the preliminary perforation ot the frames, the labor and expense incident to the application of the fastening medium by hand, and the liability ot' the fastening medium to become loose around the entire slate in the event of the breakage ot' the cord or thread at any one point. It is to remedy these difficulties that my invention is designed. I find in practical experience that by using for the slate-frame wood possessing, in its natural condition or when steamed, the proper degree of softness, and makin gthe same,

u at the point where the stitches are to be applied, of suitable thickness that I am enabled without difficulty to sew the felt, cloth, or other binding material directly to the imperforate frame without difficulty and with great rapidity.

I also tind by experience that the binding thus sewed to the frame by a-machine possesses a marked advantage over those stitched by hand to the previously-perforated frame, in that in the machine-sewing the two threads are drawn ordriven tightly into the needleholes in the frame and interlock with each other and with the wood of the frame in such manner that, although the thread may be severed at one point. there is no danger or tendency for it to work loose or release the binding at other points. This use of two threads, as in a sewing-machine, instead ot' one, as in hand-sewing, and the stitching and interlocko ing the threads tightly in the frame, instead of passing them loosely through large holes therein, as in hand-sewing, renders my improved system of attachment much stronger and more idurable than those hitherto known in the art. fOWiug to the elastic character ot' the Wood and the tendency of the grain to close together after the withdrawal ot' the needle upon the threads, the stitching of the binding to the wood has a peculiar effect as regards vthe security ot' the threads, which would not be the result in connection with other materials.

Another feature consists in combining with the wooden frame, having a co'ntinuous groove in its side faces, binding material having its edges folded or doubled and secured in the grooves by stitching, whereby it is given increased thickness, so as to project properly beyond the face of the frame, and at the sam'e time held iirmly in place. In this manner I am enabled, at a triiiing increase ot' expense, to give the cushioning-surface a proper degree ot' thickness and to render the same hard and durable, so that it will not readily Wear away.

,Various attempts have been made-to secure the same thing by having special material woven with cord thereon, and by inserting cord beneath the material of unit'orm'thickness. My method ot doubling and applying the binding material is both cheaper and better than the others mentioned.

IOO

Another and third feature of my invention consists in constructing the frame upon which A the binding is stitched with the grain of the wood running obliquely or diagonally to the edge of the frame, this result being accomplished by sawing obliquely or diagonally across the grain of' the wood when manufacturing the frames. By thus constructing the frame I entirely avoid the danger of the wood' beingsplit and broken away during or after the operation of stitching or binding the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a slate provided with my improved binding, one edge being broken away to show the parts in section. Fig. 2 is a View ci' one of' the frame-bars as it appears previous to the application ofthe binding. Fig. 3 is' a cross-section through the slateframe with the binding thereon on the line c' m, Fig. 1. Figei is a longitudinal section on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. is a cross-section illustrating a moditied form of the frame.

A represents the body ot' the slate 5 B, the grooved wooden frame encircling the same. C :represents the cloth, felt, or equivalent lbinding material; and D represents the machine stitches or threads passing through the cloth and the wooden frame, as shown. The oblique direction of the grain of the wood with reference to the edges of the frame is plainly represented in Fig. 1.

As it is considered desirable to give thek wooden frame a thickness greater than that throughwhich the machine can sew with readiness, the framebars are grooved or recessed lengthwise in any suitable manner on the line in which it is required to set the binding.

Instead of groovin g the frame, its outer edge may be reduced in thickness.

1t is manifest that binding of any suitable character may be stitched to the frame by a machine in the same manner as that herein represented.

It will be noticed that in the drawings the stitching is applied close to the edges of the binding, which are thus held down against or within the frame, and prevented from rolling upward.

In Fig. 5 ofthe drawings the separation oi the stitches or threads, and the size of the holes through which they pass, are exaggerated for the purpose of illustrating the relations of the threads to each other. It is to be understood that in practice the threads are seated tightly against each other and against the wood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 'l. As a new article of manufacture, a wood slate-frame,.having a binding or mufding attached thereto by machine-made stitches passing through and seated tightly in the edge, substantially as described and shown.

2. As an improvement in the art of attaching binding to wooden slate-frames, securing the same by machine-stitcliin g passed through the binding and the previously-unperforated frame.

3. The slate-frame having the continuons grooves or depressions in its side faces, in combination with the binding material having its edges folded or doubled and secured in said grooves by stitching, as described and shown.

4. Inaslate,awooden frame constructed with the grain ofthe wood arranged obliquel y to the edge of the frame, in combination with a binding or mufiiing material secured to theframe by threads passing through the saine, substantially as described, whereby the splitting of the frame is avoided.

THOMAS KANE.

Witnesses II. J. GREEN, H. E. C. DANIELs. 

